Gyraulus.The Planorbidae is a freshwater snail family of the subclass Pulmonata. These snails, although aquatic, are lung breathers. Gills are lacking; instead there is a large pulmonary sac for gaseous exchange. In the snail shown here, nearly half of the last whorl is occupied by the lung, clearly visible as an air-filled space. The Planorbidae are coiled in one plane, i.e., they are planate, a characteristic from which the family name is derived.
John B. Burch (photographer; copyright holder), Mollusk Division, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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To cite this page: Burch, J.2004. "062.rjb1.jpg" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 04, 2024 at https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/jack_burch/062.rjb1/
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. Additional support has come from the Marisla Foundation, UM College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Museum of Zoology, and Information and Technology Services.
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